Metallica show organisers get bail

A city court has granted bail to all the four organisers who were arrested last month for cheating after a concert of American band Metallica was cancelled.

The session court on Saturday granted bail to Rajesh Kumar, general manager of DNA Entertainment Networks and his three team members-- Umesh Chinara, Ashok Singh, and Saviou Faleiro. All the four were arrested and booked for cheating fans after the show on October 28 was called off, leading to chaos at the venue.

The court granted them bail against surety bonds of Rs 30,000 each and all the accused have been asked not to leave the country without court's permission till the case is pending.

In their bail application, the organisers countered the allegation that the cancellation of show was orchestrated by them and said the event was called off at the eleventh hour because of the unruly behaviour of some fans. "DNA Entertainment Network had made all necessary arrangements for the show. The show couldn't happen because some fans broke the barricade, the petition said.

The organisers argued that they had already paid Rs 84,77,340 as entertainment tax to the Haryana government in advance and had submitted Rs 1 crore bank security. Also, the event management firm has already paid more than Rs 5.60 crore as refund for tickets to the fans.

Counter allegations

While the city police arrested the organisers for "cheating" the audience, the bail petitioners said in the court that despite repeated calls for help, the administration and police did not pay any heed and deputed only 8-9 police officials at the venue.

The petitioners also alleged that no action was taken by police on their complaint regarding damage of stage and equipment worth lakhs of rupees by the agitated fans.